The Importance of Mindless Mental Wandering

The Gaelic phrase for this state of mind is quietness without loneliness. So much of the distress we feel comes from reacting instinctually instead of acting with conscientious deliberation. The choreographer Twyla Tharp provides an exercise for us to follow. Sit alone in a room and let your thoughts go wherever they will. Do this for one minute. Work up to ten minutes a day of this mindless mental wandering. Then start paying attention to your thoughts to see if a word or a goal materializes. If it doesn't extend the exercise to eleven minutes, then twelve, then thirteen will come to mind.